Unemployment low downstate, highest in Southern Tier

It's an ongoing theme in the monthly results put out by the state Department of Labor: the suburbs have low unemployment, but parts of upstate are struggling.

The unemployment rate in Putnam, Rockland, Westchester counties was 5.4 percent in July, compared to 6.3 percent a year ago.

In the Binghamton area, the unemployment rate was 6.7 percent -- the highest outside New York City, where it was the highest in the state at 8 percent. The unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in the Binghamton area a year ago.

In the Elmira area, the rate was 6.6 percent, compared to 8.1 percent a year ago.

The lowest rates in the state were: Hamilton County (3.9%), Saratoga County (4.7%) and Tompkins County (4.8%).